Celebrating a Space for Family

Celebrating a Space for Family in Western Sky Ranch

We are thrilled and honored to be featured in the March/April issue of Colorado Homes and Lifestyles magazine, sharing the story of our journey in creating a family home in the breathtaking landscapes of Breckenridge, Colorado. Our vision was clear from the outset: to build not just a house, but a home that would grow with our client’s family, filled with memories and celebrations across generations.

Set on a magnificent 24-acre lot in Western Sky Ranch, the home was designed with love and intention by Collective Design, alongside the architectural genius of bhh Partners. Together, they brought to life a space that marries modernity with the warmth of a family home, all while embracing the stunning natural surroundings of Breckenridge.

This home is a testament to our client’s values and our deep connection to the mountains. It stands as a place of gathering, growth, and endless possibilities, beautifully capturing the desire for a life intertwined with nature and each other.

We are deeply grateful to Colorado Homes and Lifestyles for highlighting our work. This feature is a celebration of our journey with the incredible teams we work with, the amazing clients that shared their dream with us, and the welcoming community of Breckenridge that we are proud to work in.

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Integrated Approach

INTEGRATED APPROACH

AS SEEN IN Mountain Living March/April 2024

Collective Design teams up with Pinnacle Mountain Homes to define a world-class approach to building luxury mountain homes. The talented professionals at Collective Design hold a unique approach to the collaborative process of home building. We sat down to chat with them about how their integrated approach adds up to a world- class final product and an all-around exceptional experience for clients.

What does it mean to take an integrated approach? An integrated approach to home building boils down to assembling the right team from a project’s inception through to its completion. This involves selecting architects, interior designers, and builders prior to the project’s start, who then work collectively throughout the project, integrating their thought processes, planning, and execution. Collective Design has been utilizing this approach with the renowned builder Pinnacle Mountain Homes for nearly a decade to construct award-winning homes.

How does this approach impact the final product? Excellent design is encompassing, and the same applies to construction. The end product is always superior when we consider the overall picture rather than each individual component. With an integrated approach, builders can provide practical construction insights to architects. Designers can adjust fixed finishes before ordering. At the project’s conclusion, everyone can step back and appreciate how their combined expertise created a home that is more than the sum of its parts.

And how does this contribute to a superior client experience? Apart from the aesthetically pleasing and functional end product, the practical benefits to the client throughout the process are immense. An integrated approach eliminates the compartmentalization often seen in many construction projects. By fostering a deep understanding of each other’s processes, architecture, construction, and design can collaborate to manage budgets and schedules, resulting in significant savings of both time and money for the client.

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Luxe Feature: Elevated Living

Luxe Magazine Feature: Elevated Living

The following was featured in the Jan/Feb edition of Luxe Interiors and Design:

In a place as storied and magnetic as the mountains, inspiration is in no short supply. Take one look at the stunning homes created by Collective Design, and the influence of this awe-striking landscape is clear. “We seek to match the grandeur of these monoliths while striving to continue exploring our craft,” says Principal Architect Zane Levin. “Our style has embodied a mountain modern aesthetic, although we are incorporating other contemporary styles that harmonize with the surroundings and the various elements of human history in this place.” With these stylistic leanings in tow, the Collective team designs gorgeous homes—inside and out. “On the interior, our clients are no longer seeking the visual comfort and traditional wood features that used to dominate the mountain feel,” says Adrienne Rynes, President of Interior Design. “They want modern spaces that won’t feel dated in a decade.”

OUR CLIENTS WANT TO FEEL LIKE THEIR HOME IS A LUXURY ESCAPE TO THE MOUNTAINS THAT IS COMPLETELY PERSONALIZED TO THEIR LIFESTYLE.”

Après Accents

Rynes shares a few of the features Collective Design favors for that après ski lifestyle.

In mudrooms, we use high-end ski lockers and boot dryers to make the transition easy.
A day on the slopes is often best paired with a beautiful hot tub, sauna and spa.
Once the boots are off and toes are warm, après has always been about socializing. Our communal spaces bring people together.

See it in Luxe Magazine

Mountain Lifestyle

FULL-SERVICE INTERIOR DESIGN BRECKENRIDGE RETREAT

Located at the base of Peak 8 in Breckenridge, Colorado, this 9,000-square-foot home is what designer Lisa Yates, Design Director, calls “a Western take on soft modern”—rich finishes, textural fabrics, natural materials, and a muted palette. Because of the home’s architecture and the lot’s distinctive topography, the house comprises seven split levels, which creates both dramatic ceiling heights in the gathering spaces and intimate spaces throughout the expansive footprint.

In the public areas of the home, a barnwood ceiling treatment warms up the spaces, which are infused with natural light, courtesy of large windows. A contemporary stacked-stone DaVinci fireplace separates the main living and dining rooms to give each a distinct feel. “We envisioned people hanging out around the fireplace and sitting on the hearth,” Yates says.

The handsome kitchen’s centerpiece is a dramatic, 15-foot Infamous quartzite island, bookmatched in the center. A butler’s pantry with prep area and professional-grade appliances allows the owners to use the kitchen as an area for staging food for parties while the cooking happens out of sight.

With six king bedroom suites and two bunkrooms (each with ultra-cool custom walnut bunk beds with built-in shelving and ladders), the house accommodates a lot of people easily and beautifully. Yates specified a different design—complete with sumptuous wall treatment for each suite: “We designed them all so no one bedroom feels more special than the other,” she says.

The ski chair hanging from the stairway came from Arapahoe Basin. Several years ago, the resort decided to replace the chairs on their famous Pali Lift with updated versions, so they launched a community lottery for anyone who wished to purchase the old chairs. The owners won a chance to buy a chair, a piece of Summit County history that hangs where guests entering the house can spot it when they walk through the front door.

Ultimately, this house tells the story of owners who love Summit County and high-country living, and who wanted a home that embraces and reflects a mountain lifestyle while showcasing exceptional details, furnishings, and finishes. See more of this home or tell us about your next home project and learn more about our distinctive, personal approach by getting in touch.

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Remodel Tips

REMODEL TIPS FROM COLLECTIVE DESIGN’S PROS

At Collective Design, we love a good remodel. There’s a special kind of satisfaction that comes from helping clients transform their existing residences into homes they love. We typically undertake remodels that fall into one of the following five broad categories, outlined here with a few tips from our pros on how to make the most of a renovation. Which remodel personality are you?

1. Furnishings: You love your home’s bones and space, but the bear-paw-print upholstery and heavy wood tables no longer suit your style. Our furniture store team and designers are perfectly positioned to give your home a full furnishings overhaul, complete with accessories that make the space feel styled and finished.

Pro Tip: Often old furnishings aren’t scaled properly for a home. When you right-size your anchor pieces—sofas, chairs, dining tables—you suddenly improve the flow and feel of the home without moving a single wall!

2. Cosmetic finishes: In addition to new furnishings and accessories, you need new paint and fixtures—lighting, plumbing, the works. Collective’s interior design team can create an entire new look within your existing walls—with consult from the architecture team if there’s any need for a shift in interior architectural elements. “Adding such things as wallcoverings and fresh textures, updating lighting, fixing drywall before you paint—all of these things make a huge impact on a home,” says Design Director Lisa Yates.
Pro Tip: If you’re updating your lighting, tell your design team you want to change out your old can lights to accommodate LED bulbs. “They replicate the color of outdoor light better,” Lisa says.

3. Structural changes: The minute you decide to move a wall, a window, or a door, you’re into a structural remodel—in which case, you want to employ architectural service. Collective’s integrated team of architects and designers makes it easy to access a full design team simultaneously. “We often lead these remodel efforts while our interiors colleagues speak to all of the details,” says lead architect Zane Levin. “The benefit is that we can coordinate to save our clients time and money and prevent headaches.” What’s more, Collective’s partner construction company, Pinnacle Mountain Homes, offers additional integration as a building partner, so you have all three professional services under a single (literal) roof.
Pro Tip: As soon as you get into construction mode, you’ll want to move out. “You should never live in the house during a remodel,” Zane says. “It’s not good for anybody!”

4. Addition: Many of Collective’s clients come to us wanting to expand their home’s square footage. Our team easily connects existing structures with additions to make the new home an integrated design when the addition is complete.
Pro Tip: An addition is an excellent time to update your home’s exterior with your design team. “Even just painting the trim and fascia can add depth and character,” Lisa says. “Your designer can help you choose the right colors to give the house a whole new look.”

5. Partial or complete gut: This one is, of course, the most major of the remodel options. “In some cases, we’re basically rebuilding the house,” Zane says. “I love these remodels because it gives us a chance to be creative within interesting constraints—we want to preserve a footprint or a view out a window. We hear from the client what they love about their home, and then we work with our interiors team to make the rest of the home fit the clients’ vision.”
Pro Tip: If you’re going to remodel a room, don’t do it halfway. “We really believe in doing the full package, even if it means touching less of the house,” Zane says. “If you’re going to redo the great room, redo the finishes, the lighting, the furnishings, the paint, everything. You’ll enjoy it more—and you can move slowly through the house if you need, doing things right as you go.”

Collective’s team welcomes the opportunity to meet with you and discuss your remodel goals—and how we can become your partner in designing a home you love!

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Our Take on Modern Architecture

MODERN IN THE MOUNTAINS: ONE ARCHITECT’S TAKE

Zane Levin, head of Collective’s architecture team and Principal Architect, was excited when this project on a three-acre lot in Breckenridge came across his desk: The client wanted true modern design in the mountains (not the amorphous “mountain modern” that seems to represent a whole range of styles, most of them contemporary). “These owners wanted flat roofs, big glass expanses, a material palette of metal and wood, and exposed structure throughout the home—all elements of classic modern design,” Levin says. Driven by the stylistic goals, Levin began by designing boxy volumes and flat roofs of varying heights. “With modern design comes a very open floorplan,” Levin says. So here, the great room, kitchen, and dining are all in one form with doors on both sides of the rectangle: One set of doors opens to the front patio and the other, to the backyard. “The owners wanted that open, modern feel in the public gathering space great for entertaining,” the architect says.

Upstairs are additional bedrooms, a flexible office/exercise space, and a family room with tucked-away bunk beds. The second floor also offers access to a big rooftop deck that stacks over the great room and dining area. “The house is in a valley with mountains all around it,” Levin says. “We wanted to capture those views.”

And nothing’s quite so helpful in that pursuit as glass, which Levin calls this home’s “number one material.” (It’s also essential for the home’s passive-solar design, maximizing energy efficiency throughout the year.) To accent the glass, Levin specified cedar siding to add visual warmth, metal fascia for a handsome contrast, and stone to provide additional texture.

For the home’s interiors, Levin and his team designed architectural details on par with the home’s gorgeous exterior. The most notable of these is the staircase. “We have this massive, glassy corner and the tallest ceiling in the whole house,” Levin says. “It was a great opportunity to showcase the stair from both inside and out.” Warm wood treads, an industrial-style structural system, and glass handrails all combine to give the staircase the desired effect—an ethereal, sculpture-like installation.

The staircase isn’t the only area where Levin focused on the interior details: In the entry, a slatted-wood ceiling treatment was designed to “look purposeful and elegant and also have integrated lighting,” he says. “We spent a lot of time planning exactly what that would look like.” Similarly, Levin brought an industrial look to the dining room’s tray ceiling with a faux I-beams: “We didn’t need those beams to be structural, so those are painted aluminum,” he says. His team dreamed up the design for the bar adjacent to the kitchen and planned careful recessed lighting in the main bedroom’s tray ceiling. “I think we do a really good job coordinating details, visually and functionally, so each house is just what a client wants,” he says.

During his architectural work, Levin collaborated with his interior design colleagues at Collective, who selected finishes, furnishings, and fixtures to complete the home’s modern look—and deliver the clients’ dream home.

Learn more about Collective’s distinctive, integrated approach and tell us about your next home project by getting in touch.

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High-Country Style

HIGH-COUNTRY STYLE IN WINTER PARK SKI-IN, SKI-OUT HOME

The owners of this newly built, three-level Winter Park home came to Collective Design’s interiors team with a big request – they wanted us to furnish and finish the whole home with a lot of natural elements but a modern look. The house is the family’s vacation home, but it’s also in the rental pool, so we had to make it beautiful and durable.

The design team set to work creating spaces defined by gorgeous furnishings and layered with pops of color and surprising artwork in the five-bedroom house. In the open living-dining-kitchen area, a live-edge wood dining table gives the space a mountain-inspired feel, complemented by upholstered chairs in a contemporary style. A hair-on-hide rug and triptych artwork—a photo of an elk from London’s Trowbridge Gallery—nod to life in the West.

In the nearby living room, the centerpiece is a custom console that wraps around the back of the sofa and offers shelf space for displaying beloved objects, books, and pretty décor. A custom beam coffee table is a sleek counterpoint to the stone fireplace, and layers of texture—wool rug, fur throws, and leather and linen upholstery—give the room an inviting vibe. The design team made sure there’s plenty of seating for people to hang out, spend time together, have a glass of wine at the end of the day.

The home’s middle level houses all of the bedrooms (except the fun and playful bunkroom, which is on the lowest level). The design team dreamed up serene guest suites that pay homage to nature and coziness; in the bedroom featured here, for example, a headboard in a pattern that riffs on tree trunks takes center stage. By layering textural neutrals in the space, the designers created a luxurious retreat.

But that approach didn’t preclude the design team from having some fun, too: “The clients love pops of color, so we got to have some fun with fabrics and art,” Boettner says. Case in point: The designers created a gallery wall of more than a dozen vibrant ski posters in the bedroom hallway. They also added benches upholstered in colorful fabrics to transition spaces in the home to bring energetic hues to the space.

The owners’ personalities are also evident in the home’s lower-level rec area with games, shuffleboard, pinball machines, and a pool table. The cement floors give the space an industrial feel, while a custom modular sofa gives spectators a comfortable place to sit and cheer. A built-in bar and custom bar-top table that seats 10 people complete the space’s good looks.

The interiors’ beauty gives way, on all three levels of the home, to expansive decks. The team gave each outdoor area distinctive vignettes to accommodate various uses. On the deck outside of the master suite, for example, blue upholstered chairs and a table make a perfect scene for evening cocktails. A hanging pod nearby is an irresistible spot for an afternoon nap.

Collective’s approach delivered exactly what the clients needed: high function, gorgeous spaces, and a look that embraces the home’s unique location adjacent to Winter Park’s ski resort. To begin a conversation about how we can help you create the mountain home of your dreams, get in touch.

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A Remodel Transformation

Lisa Yates – Cordillera Remodel

Located in the beloved community of Cordillera located in Edwards, Colorado this home was transformed from dark, traditional spaces to a brighter, more modern aesthetic still embracing the client’s personality. Design Director Lisa Yates ensured no detail went overlooked over the course of the extensive remodel and full-furnishings revamp. Hear the story behind the Cordillera interior design project in this video. For more on this project, check out our before & after blog.

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Remodel Before & After

BEFORE & AFTER: HOW TO TRANSFORM A LOG HOME
INTO A TIMELESS CLASSIC

This Edwards home has a remodel story that only a pandemic could produce: The owners found themselves quarantined in the home—tucked in the beloved community of Cordillera—during the COVID-19 pandemic. They had approached Collective Design Director, Lisa Yates, to help them remodel their kitchen, but the longer the pandemic wore on, the more they noticed other areas of their home they wanted to change: the dining room, the living room, the main bedroom suite, the mud room and laundry…Before long, the list of areas the owners wanted to transform included nearly every space in the 4,780 square-foot home.

Yates was up for the challenge her clients (and a worldwide pandemic) offered: In lieu of meeting in person, they connected virtually, selecting all finishes and fixtures, furnishings, and décor to give the home a warm, modern feel within the context of its original architecture. The owners wanted Yates to replace the home’s dated and overly ornate elements with a holistic look that was both casual and classic. And instead of ignoring the interior log details, the clients asked Yates to craft a design that embraced them while still giving them a brighter, more modern aesthetic.

For the kitchen, Yates revamped the island shape to make the kitchen more expansive and specified cabinetry in two different finishes from Leadville-based Cutting Edge Woodworking: The kitchen perimeter cabinets are painted Benjamin Moore’s Dorian Gray, while those on the island are finished in a warm brown finish dubbed “Spanish Oak.” Cardoso Black granite countertops on the perimeter and White Pearl quartzite in a leathered finish on the island add to the kitchen’s palette of layered neutrals. New furnishings and a modern light fixture in the breakfast nook make the kitchen a delightful place to enjoy morning coffee, prep dinner, and host guests.

The adjacent living room got an overhaul that began with the fireplace surround: Fresh stacked stone and a more contemporary sandstone mantel set the tone for the space’s new vibe. Yates replaced dated furnishings with a large sectional from Lee Industries and nesting cocktail tables. The simple, elegant lines of the furnishings and the muted color palette help draw attention to the beautiful views from the room’s large window.

One of the designer’s favorite elements in the home is the master bedroom’s live-edge wood headboard, crafted by one of Collective’s custom fabricators. Against the silk Phillip Jeffries wallcovering, the bed is a handsome standout—a contemporary riff on high-country design. Details such as custom pillows from Kravet and lamps from Jamie Young Co. add to the room’s elevated feel.

“It’s been really enjoyable to see the evolution of Cordillera throughout the years and be a part of a project that can carry the neighborhood into a new generation,” said Yates in her recent video interview.

The home’s transformation underscores Collective’s ability to slide seamlessly along the spectrum between traditional and modern to deliver the exact look and feel each client desires. We’re always eager to work with homeowners to create their dream homes—whether your project is a new build, a kitchen remodel, or anything in between. Contact us here to begin a conversation about how Collective’s team can help you achieve your home-design goals.

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Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

6 GIFT IDEAS FOR DESIGN-LOVING MOTHERS

Every mother deserves an extra boost of love on Mother’s Day and the perfect gift is something memorable and timeless. Our designers have put together a Mother’s Day gift guide including unique, stylish items that will bring a sense of joy to mom and her home. Give the gift of interior design while shopping local at our Summit County furniture boutique where we have hand-picked furniture and decor that can be incorporated in any space, of any style. We are sure you will find something she will love, and maybe you will find a treat for yourself as well.

Here are 6 gift-ideas for design-loving mothers…

Coffee Table Books
Pick out a classic, decorative tabletop option that you can stack on a console or, of course, display on a coffee table. Books can act as a stand for florals, candles, and other accessories when you want to add an extra element or color to a space. With a wide variety of options, you can find a book that conveys a meaningful sentiment, becoming a piece you can flip through with your mother for years to come.
Throw Blankets
Throws can give any space that small upgrade of coziness and a feeling of warmth. Whether placed at the end of a sofa, on a chair or bed, a throw will add another layer of texture and contrast. Plus, every time mom wraps herself up in it, she will think of you.
Cutting Boards or Cocktail Trays
Reclaimed wood and marble trays are not only practical but are becoming more unique and stylish these days. If your mom loves to host, a cutting board or cocktail tray is a great option for her. Functional and decorative, they can be used for a dinner party and then displayed on the kitchen counter against the backsplash for contrast, or on a bar top as decor.

Faux Florals
Faux florals are the perfect way to give your mom a gift that keeps on giving well past Mother’s Day. Our Frisco furniture store offers a beautiful array of styles, colors, and stems to choose from. We can design and create custom arrangements based on the aesthetic you are looking for and help you choose a special, one-of-a-kind vase.
Throw Pillows
Give your mother’s favorite sofa or chaise a refreshing pop of color with some fun throw pillows for spring. With countless colors and style options on our furniture store floor, we can help you find the perfect tones and textures that would work in your mother’s space.
Wine Cubes and Wine Coolers
Who doesn’t love a good glass of wine? We know our mothers may sometimes enjoy one from time to time. Give the gift of indulgence and relaxation with a beautiful marble wine cooler and wine cubes to cool down a glass of white or sangria. Take it a step further and pair it with a cheese board for the perfect wine-down at the end of the day.

These are just a few of our favorite designer-curated items, so be sure to stop in our furniture store to browse our furnishings and décor. If you think mom would like to choose her own pieces and meet our team of design consultants, we also offer gift cards that you can purchase. We hope to see you at our furniture store and wish every mother a very Happy Mother’s Day.

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Celebrating a Space for Family in Western Sky Ranch

INTEGRATED APPROACH

AS SEEN IN Mountain Living March/April 2024

Luxe Magazine Feature: Elevated Living

Après Accents

FULL-SERVICE INTERIOR DESIGN BRECKENRIDGE RETREAT

REMODEL TIPS FROM COLLECTIVE DESIGN’S PROS

MODERN IN THE MOUNTAINS: ONE ARCHITECT’S TAKE

HIGH-COUNTRY STYLE IN WINTER PARK SKI-IN, SKI-OUT HOME

Lisa Yates – Cordillera Remodel

BEFORE & AFTER: HOW TO TRANSFORM A LOG HOMEINTO A TIMELESS CLASSIC

6 GIFT IDEAS FOR DESIGN-LOVING MOTHERS

BEFORE & AFTER: HOW TO TRANSFORM A LOG HOME
INTO A TIMELESS CLASSIC